Diseased trees to be removed from Glen Oaks

Rick Georgeson, public affairs representative of the Department of Environmental Conservation, said that the removal of the seven infected trees will begin later this month. He also said that the DEC will most likely continue to remove trees within a 5-acre perimeter through the end of June.

Georgesen said that trenching was ruled out because of too many underground utility obstacles.

"The DEC's priority is to contain and remove the diseased trees and then move on to those surrounding," said Georgesen.

Georgesen said that the fungal disease can be aggressive because it clogs the tree's ability to take in water and nutrients. He also said that officials were not able to identify it immediately and needed to send it out for testing.

McFarland said the tree removal will come at no cost to the town and is being funded by the DEC at a cost of about $30,000.

Georgesen said that although they do not know how the oak wilt was transported to Glenville, a new regulation was enacted March 18 to protect forests from destructive diseases by not allowing imported firewood into New York unless it has been treated to eliminate pests. The regulation also prohibits the movement of untreated firewood within New York more than 50 miles from its source. For information, go to the DEC's Web site at www. dec.ny.gov. ""